Warning about Baja Travel - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

cowboybill · 08-19-2010, 09:46 AM

I had to respond again after seeing the comment from the guy trying to turn this around to seem like Mexico bashing... The big thing to remember is you do not have the same rights, or access to legal protection, period.

On a positive note; I must say that while travelling near Laguna Hanson (roughly 50-75 miles south of Tecate), My 4x4 broke down. Battery lost 2 cells...I was on flat ground so I could not bump it....
I hiked about 3-5 miles north, and met 2 brothers farming....Long story short, these 2 brothers took about 3-4 hours to get me back and running. They had to get out an old ford bronco, get it started, get gas, etc, etc...
They saved my ass, and asked for nothing. In fact the family offered me dinner and a nights stay! I gave them $50 or so for their troubles (they would not take more) and took off. It has been over 15 years, and I still remember their names...Martin and Mario of Rancho Day....

The locals tend to be just good down home folk... I wish the legal system was as ethical.

Cowboybill

dorado50 · 08-19-2010, 09:53 AM

Thats what makes Baja so special! Just wonderful families there and people like those that helped you with your truck are everywhere there.

Thresher_Cowboy · 08-19-2010, 11:47 AM

Mexico is a dangerous place for Americans to travel. That's a fact, let's not call it anything that it's not. Are there ways to minimize your risk? Sure, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous.

Boogie, I hope you can live with yourself when you convince some family to travel through your great country and they're raped and murdered because you convinced them it was so safe and awesome. Wake up.

dorado50 · 08-19-2010, 12:43 PM

I like this threasher cow dude, as some people will (do) follow his words and not come to Baja. Good for me and others for two reasons 1) less traffic 2) more fish !!! See you on the otherside.

Thresher_Cowboy · 08-19-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorado50

I like this threasher cow dude, as some people will (do) follow his words and not come to Baja. Good for me and others for two reasons 1) less traffic 2) more fish !!! See you on the otherside.

I'm trying to keep it real. Painting a picture like Mexico is soooo safe and wonderful is a dangerous and irresponsible message to send to people reading this public forum. There are very real dangers people should be aware of, despite the downplaying and nonchalant comments from people like yourself.

dorado50 · 08-19-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thresher_Cowboy

I'm trying to keep it real. Painting a picture like Mexico is soooo safe and wonderful is a dangerous and irresponsible message to send to people reading this public forum. There are very real dangers people should be aware of, despite the downplaying and nonchalant comments from people like yourself.

Like I said ,the more people that listen to your rhetoric the better for me and others 1) less traffic 2)more fish

bluesquids · 08-19-2010, 12:44 PM

I started to explore B.C. in my 20's in my VW camper van. It was great until the same scenario went down with me. They took all day and went thru every nook and cranny of my bus and confiscated a bunch of stuff. I remember a really expensive pair of soccer cleats in particular.

Jimmyz123 · 08-19-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboybill

I had to respond again after seeing the comment from the guy trying to turn this around to seem like Mexico bashing... The big thing to remember is you do not have the same rights, or access to legal protection, period.

On a positive note; I must say that while travelling near Laguna Hanson (roughly 50-75 miles south of Tecate), My 4x4 broke down. Battery lost 2 cells...I was on flat ground so I could not bump it....
I hiked about 3-5 miles north, and met 2 brothers farming....Long story short, these 2 brothers took about 3-4 hours to get me back and running. They had to get out an old ford bronco, get it started, get gas, etc, etc...
They saved my ass, and asked for nothing. In fact the family offered me dinner and a nights stay! I gave them $50 or so for their troubles (they would not take more) and took off. It has been over 15 years, and I still remember their names...Martin and Mario of Rancho Day....

The locals tend to be just good down home folk... I wish the legal system was as ethical.

Cowboybill

I have been seeing this type of friendliness down there for the last 10 years. Just this last weekend I needed my air conditioning charged. I went to a guy who took me to the place where they have all their work done. 60 minutes later my AC is running like magic and the guy charged me $40 for all the work he did.

I have only had 1 issue going down to Baja, and that is not enough to keep me from going down there. I will do things differently when going through the check point from now on, and I will know a lot more Spanish as well.

Sadly there are too many people up here that Pre-judge the people south of the border and it's not fair. I have no problem with anyone wanting to stay safe, but please don't assume that everyone in Baja is the same as the drug lords we keep hearing about. I have 2 fishing guides that I know down there that I would trust my life with, and I also know many people down there that I would do that same.

It's a fun place to visit just be smart, safe, and check your temper at the border.

08-19-2010, 09:46 AM	#1
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	Positive mexico! I had to respond again after seeing the comment from the guy trying to turn this around to seem like Mexico bashing... The big thing to remember is you do not have the same rights, or access to legal protection, period. On a positive note; I must say that while travelling near Laguna Hanson (roughly 50-75 miles south of Tecate), My 4x4 broke down. Battery lost 2 cells...I was on flat ground so I could not bump it.... I hiked about 3-5 miles north, and met 2 brothers farming....Long story short, these 2 brothers took about 3-4 hours to get me back and running. They had to get out an old ford bronco, get it started, get gas, etc, etc... They saved my ass, and asked for nothing. In fact the family offered me dinner and a nights stay! I gave them $50 or so for their troubles (they would not take more) and took off. It has been over 15 years, and I still remember their names...Martin and Mario of Rancho Day.... The locals tend to be just good down home folk... I wish the legal system was as ethical. Cowboybill

08-19-2010, 12:44 PM	#7
bluesquids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jamul, CA Posts: 243	I started to explore B.C. in my 20's in my VW camper van. It was great until the same scenario went down with me. They took all day and went thru every nook and cranny of my bus and confiscated a bunch of stuff. I remember a really expensive pair of soccer cleats in particular. __________________ Thanks, bluesquids

08-19-2010, 09:53 AM	#2
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Thats what makes Baja so special! Just wonderful families there and people like those that helped you with your truck are everywhere there.

08-19-2010, 11:47 AM	#3
Thresher_Cowboy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 86	Mexico is a dangerous place for Americans to travel. That's a fact, let's not call it anything that it's not. Are there ways to minimize your risk? Sure, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Boogie, I hope you can live with yourself when you convince some family to travel through your great country and they're raped and murdered because you convinced them it was so safe and awesome. Wake up.

08-19-2010, 12:43 PM	#4
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	I like this threasher cow dude, as some people will (do) follow his words and not come to Baja. Good for me and others for two reasons 1) less traffic 2) more fish !!! See you on the otherside.